She comes over to me and strokes a hand down my hair. “Good morning, my beautiful girl.”
When breakfast is finished the three of us eat together, and it’s just what I wanted this morning—something quiet and relaxing. That’s why my brothers are staying at the hotel with Pop Pop and Mimi Bateman.
Once we’re finished, Mom rushes me off. “Get your shower, then we’ll go get our massages, then hair and makeup.” I don’t miss the tears in her eyes. “My baby girl is getting married.”
I pull her into a hug. “I love you. Thank you for everything, and I mean everything.” I kiss her cheek before heading down the hall to my old room. At the end of the hall is one of my favorite pictures.
Although I only remember bits and pieces, it’s the day my mom and dad got married in a little chapel in Vegas called Fake Weddings Here. I’m in Dad’s arms with Mom snuggled into his side. Both sets of grandparents are gathered around us, and sweet Pixy was at Pop Pop’s feet. I kiss my fingertips before touching the picture and then walk into my room so I can get ready to get married.
***
Laken
Chance holds me close, our legs intertwined in our bed. “Our baby got married,” I whisper against his chest. It was a beautiful service and reception. Our daughter looked like a princess and was so blissfully happy.
“I know. Is it wrong that I didn’t want to give her away? That I wanted to throw her in our car and drive away with her.” He kisses my forehead and runs his hand up and down my arm.
“Gabe’s a good man. He’ll be good to her. We should be thrilled she married someone we actually like.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I grab his face and kissing him, effectively shutting him up.
We’ve been married almost twenty-one years, and I couldn’t have picked a better partner in crime. We were practically babies when we got together, and I’m sure people had their doubts on whether we’d make it, but we showed them. If it’s even possible, I love him more today than the day I married him.
I crawl on top of my husband, and Chance wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Again?”
Caging him in with my hands on both sides of his head, I lean down until our lips are almost touching. “Thank you for being the best partner I could ask for. Thank you for giving us the best life imaginable. You were a cocky jerk, stealing my parking spot, but I’m glad you did it.”
“Baby, I’ve got game. It was all part of my master plan.”
My laugh turns into a moan as my husband goes about showing me all the magic he can do to my body.
The End
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Cocky Striker is a standalone story inspired by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard. It's published as part of the Cocky Hero Club world, a series of original works, written by various authors, and inspired by Keeland and Ward's New York Times bestselling series.
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-About the Author-
A Midwesterner and a readaholic most of her life until one day an idea came into Evan’s head and a writing career was born. She's a sucker for happily ever afters and loves creating fictional worlds that others can get lost in. She loves putting her characters through the ringer, but loves when they get to that satisfying, swoony ending.
When the voices in her head give it a rest, which isn’t often, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Aurora Rose Reynolds, (the queen) Kristen Ashley, Kaylee Ryan, Natasha Madison, and Harper Sloan. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, movies, TV shows and life.
She's a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and (the real) Evan, a weightlifter, a home healthcare scheduler, and a full-time author. How does she do it? She'll never tell.
-Acknowledgments-
First and foremost, thank you to my husband Jim. Whenever I’m on a deadline, you always step in, handling the cooking and cleaning while I work. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.
Kaylee, thank you for always answering my many questions and for just being an amazing person and author.
Evan’s Entourage, my most excellent readers group. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your neverending support and enthusiasm, I love you all.
To Silla thank you for helping make my story the best it could be and for making it look pretty for my readers.
Thank you to Vi and Penelope for trusting me with their wonderful characters. I’m truly honored and hope I did them justice.
